ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit went on KESN 103.3 with Ian Fitzsimmons Tuesday to talk about Mack Brown and the Longhorn coaching rumors. Here are some highlights.

On Mack Brown being surprised when Herbstreit called him to ask about his alleged stepping down:

“Maybe he hasn’t even met, he was telling me, with the president or athletic director, so I guess maybe he’s meeting later this week? Maybe something will come of that, but as of right now, according to what he’s saying, he’s busy recruiting and doing his best to try to land a great class this year.”

“I think he kind of sounded like, ‘I think I’ve been rumored to be stepping down now 10 or 12 or 13 times now, whatever it’s been.’ I think he’s been almost numb to all the talk and all the chatter about his future. Think about it. Almost every week, he’s either stepping down or someone’s taking his job. One or the other.”

“As bad as things started for them at the beginning of this season, it was crazy that they went out and they’re playing football here in the last week or two with the chance to try to get to the Fiesta Bowl … So there’s something to be said for the job that he and the staff and the players did to try to gain some momentum in that season.”

On who could replace Brown if he steps down or is fired:

“Just scratch Nick Saban from the list. Immediately scratch that, and then go from there. Who do you think they would be able to bring in?”

On if the Longhorns should replace Brown:

“It depends on if Mack at his age and everything he’s accomplished, does he still have that fire? Does he still wake up and say, ‘I’m not going out like this.’ … If he’s really really eager and has the energy and can take on all these rumors and all the speculation about him and the program, I would say then give him a chance to be able to show what he can do. And if he’s kinda in and kinda not, then I’d say it’s best to move on … The way they’ve played these last two years, it bothers him more than it’s bothered you or me or your most devoted Longhorn fan.”

On rumors about Nick Saban coming to Texas:

“There’s no chance. No chance of that happening. Nick Saban will work TV sitting next to us on our set before he’ll be the head coach at Texas … He’ll be at Alabama for another five years, and then he’ll be working TV after that … I know Nick Saban better than anybody. It’s not going to happen.”

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